Metacantharis clypeata is a species of soldier beetle belonging to the family Cantharidae.
| Metacantharis clypeata | |
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| Metacantharis clypeata | |
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| Species: | M. clypeata
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| Binomial name | |
| Metacantharis clypeata (Illiger, 1798)
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Etymology
editThe Latin genus name Metacantharis is composed by meta (meaning middle) and Cantharis (other genus of Soldier beetles), while the Latin species name clypeata means distinguished by the clypeus.[2]
Description
editMetacantharis clypeata can reach a length of 6.5–10 millimetres (0.26–0.39 in). Elytrae are pale yellowish or pale brownish, with a dark suture and sparse short semi-erect pubescence. The head is black to the front of the eyes. Pronotum shows a basic yellow color with two black spots often merged and located on the rear half. Scutellum is black.[3] These soldier beetles occur from April to July, mostly on pines and oaks.[4]
Habitat
editMetacantharis clypeata lives in lowland and upland areas up to an altitude of about 1900 m above sea level. It is a xerophilous species, may be a relic of the cold and dry climate of the late Pleistocene and early Holocene.[4]
Distribution
editThis species can be found in Albania, Great Britain, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, eastern Palaearctic realm, and North Africa.[5]
References
editExternal links
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